Chrysler PT CruiserYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 2,524 NHTSA owner complaints across 10 model years, the Chrysler PT Cruiser years to avoid are 2001, and the strongest years are 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The PT Cruiser has 9 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoid'01Use caution: 2002, 2006 Best years'05 '07 '08 '09Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints2,524Top: Electrical system Safety recalls92001–2010 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Best & worst years

Chrysler PT Cruiser years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the PT Cruiser median. Tap a year for its full report.

61851125821718734915011597 22

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2010Not rated–/10022 complaints · 0 recalls 2009Best73/10097 complaints · 0 recalls 2008Solid64/100115 complaints · 0 recalls 2007Solid58/100150 complaints · 0 recalls 2006Caution39/100349 complaints · 1 recall 2005Solid54/100187 complaints · 3 recalls 2004Solid50/100217 complaints · 1 recall 2003Solid46/100258 complaints · 2 recalls 2002Caution29/100511 complaints · 3 recalls 2001Avoid28/100618 complaints · 5 recalls

Complaints by system

Most common Chrysler PT Cruiser problems

All model years combined: 2,524 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

560Electrical system48 crash/fire/injury

249Engine and engine cooling24 crash/fire/injury

226Air bags131 crash/fire/injury

222Suspension10 crash/fire/injury

220Exterior lighting15 crash/fire/injury

220Steering28 crash/fire/injury

213Power train18 crash/fire/injury

193Engine23 crash/fire/injury

175Structure

91123 other systems108 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Electrical system	560	48
Engine and engine cooling	249	24
Air bags	226	131
Suspension	222	10
Exterior lighting	220	15
Steering	220	28
Power train	213	18
Engine	193	23
Structure	175	18
23 other systems	911	108

9 recalls

Chrysler PT Cruiser recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Visibility: glass, side/rear07V-149 · 2005–2006 · Apr 4, 2007 · 38,447 vehicles Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip04V-481 · 2005 · Oct 8, 2004 · 115 vehicles Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections04V-268 · 2001–2005 · Jun 3, 2004 · 438,391 vehicles Power train: clutch assembly03V-076 · 2003 · Mar 10, 2003 · 816 vehicles Fuel system, gasoline: delivery02V-215 · 2001–2002 · Aug 8, 2002 · 345,436 vehicles Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings02V-214 · 2001 · Aug 8, 2002 · 97,779 vehicles Front assembly: recliner02V-162 · 2001 · Jun 14, 2002 · 77,000 vehicles Wiring: interior/under dash01V-288 · 2002 · Sep 10, 2001 · 43,000 vehicles Child seat00V-366 · 2001 · Nov 9, 2000 · 1,211,756 vehicles

5 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the PT Cruiser

Feb 16, 2007
REAR QUARTER PANEL GLASS SEPARATIONEA07004 · 2005–2006 · closed Apr 5, 2007
Led to recall 07V-149
Oct 20, 2006
REAR QUARTER PANEL GLASS SEPARATIONPE06046 · 2006 · closed Feb 16, 2007
No recall
Mar 15, 2004
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE04028 · 2001–2005 · closed Jun 18, 2004
Led to recall 04V-268
Nov 6, 2002
SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATEPE02082 · 2001–2003 · closed Apr 23, 2003
No recall
Jul 19, 2002
FUEL HOSE ABRASIONPE02058 · 2001 · closed Oct 4, 2002
Led to recall 02V-214